Massachusetts House Orders Nine Bills to Third Reading, Enacts Two Local Measures

BOSTON — April 21, 2026 — The Massachusetts House advanced nine bills and enacted two local measures in a brief formal session April 21. Speaker Ronald Mariano presided as the House concurred with a Senate referral on a Lowell property petition filed by Representative Vanna Howard, then ordered nine bills to a third reading on unanimous voice votes — including measures setting net-zero building standards for Somerville, adjusting police hiring age limits in Worcester and Boston, and authorizing an additional liquor license for Bridgewater. Two engrossed bills passed to be enacted: H.4602, expanding the Munson Select Board, cleared a division count of 9 to 0 on its emergency preamble before final passage; H.4259, renaming Weider Park Tennis Courts as the Kim O'Connell Tennis Courts, followed the same path. A message from Governor Healey promoting legislation on "Massachusetts winning global investment, talent, and innovation," filed April 16, was referred without debate to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies under Rule 30.